Mixed Messages: Thailand's Confusing PR Machine [Season 4, Episode 21]

Mixed Messages: Thailand's Confusing PR Machine [Season 4, Episode 21]

The big news of the day is of course the coronavirus, something Greg and Ed have talked about frequently on the bonus show, which goes to our patrons. But on this show, though, the guys dive right in and address the Thai government's bizarre and inconsistent public declarations about the virus and the government's policy towards it.

Ed does his best to recount the government's statements of the last few days: first, an apparent mandatory quarantine of all travelers from nine countries, followed by that statement disappearing and radio silence from the government. Then, a new statement indicating an 'optional' quarantine of travelers from fewer countries, followed by a new statement from TAT apparently discouraging tourists to travel to Thailand from high-risk countries.

The boys lament the fact that bad PR by the Thai government would be laughable in some circumstances, but in the case of coronavirus it is potentially deadly. At the very least, hundreds of thousands of tourists - not to mention Thais in the hospitality and service industries - are affected by Thai governmental policies, so professionalism and clarity are of utmost importance.

To wrap things up, Greg and Ed discuss various theories to explain the government's strange ineptitude at communicating with the public. Greg introduces a theory that it could be be partly due to Thai cultural communication styles, while Ed considers a more mundane explanation: military-bureaucratic incompetence.

As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Episoder(561)

Bangkok Podcast 33: Five Questions

Bangkok Podcast 33: Five Questions

For the last show of 2010, Tony and Greg decided to learn a little about more about how each of them views their adopted city. To that end, each of them came up with five questions about life in Bangk...

23 Des 201043min

Bangkok Podcast 32: Hamish Chalmers

Bangkok Podcast 32: Hamish Chalmers

While our regular Thai language Jedi Rikker takes a well-deserved break, we're joined today by Hamish Chalmers, another noted Thai speaker, blogger, Tweeter and all-around nice guy. As a teacher at a ...

19 Des 201043min

Bangkok Podcast 31: Visa Runs

Bangkok Podcast 31: Visa Runs

On this episode we disucss the much-hated, much-maligned visa run, the process of renewing your visa by traveling outside of the country that you live in. Most anyone who lives in Thailand has experie...

12 Des 201043min

Bangkok Podcast 30: Phra Pandit

Bangkok Podcast 30: Phra Pandit

Ask anyone in the world what they see when they think of Thailand, and chances are that one of those things will be monks. They are a part of life here - wandering the streets early in the morning, sh...

29 Nov 201043min

Bangkok Podcast 29: Thai Language Series 7

Bangkok Podcast 29: Thai Language Series 7

On this show we're again joined by Thai language Jedi Rikker Dockum who goes through the calendar with us looking at the Thai holidays. It can be confusing sometimes keeping them all straight, because...

28 Nov 201043min

Bangkok Podcast 28: Expats and Technology

Bangkok Podcast 28: Expats and Technology

Living overseas can often caust a bit of separation anxiety. You miss your family, you miss your friends, and pretty soon work, social life and time zones get in your way. As little as 5 or 6 years ag...

21 Nov 201032min

Bangkok Podcast 27: Jerry Hopkins Pt 2

Bangkok Podcast 27: Jerry Hopkins Pt 2

On this week's show, continue our interview with Mr. Jerry Hopkins. You may not know his name right away but Jerry is a legend in the music and publishing industries. Before he retired to Thailand, Je...

13 Nov 201047min

Bangkok Podcast 26: Jerry Hopkins Pt1

Bangkok Podcast 26: Jerry Hopkins Pt1

If you like real music then you are in for a treat with this weeks guest as we're very lucky to interview Mr. Jerry Hopkins. You may not know his name right away but Jerry is a legend in the music and...

7 Nov 201040min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
alt-fortalt
min-barneoppdragelse
fladseth
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
krisemoter
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen